TILte ltlettopolis.

A Court of Aldermen was held on Tuesday. The most interesting business was a report by the Sheriffs on the state of the City prisons; which, considering the time, is very favourable in point of health.

At a meeting of the City Commissioners of Sewers, on the same day, it was resolved to invite candidates for the post of Medical Officer to the City; the Board to select two for nomination to the Court of Common Council, with whom the actual appointment lies. The Commissioners are also in communication with the Royal College of Physicians.

A meeting of the Society for Promoting Baths and Washhouses for the Labouring Classes was held, on Wednesday, at the rooms in George Street, Ruston Square. The institution flourishes, and is fully appreciated by the poor. The numbers seeking to use it exceed the means of accommodation; the institution is quite self-supporting, and all funds contributed to it are now devoted to its extension. Among the donors are the Queen, Prince Albert, the Queen Dowager, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many of the nobility. Besides its washing and bathing accommodation, the society has been instrumental in affording means to purify the overcrowded and ill-kept homes of the poor.

The Board of Stamps and Taxes has already prohibited the advertising of "Derby sweeps" and similar public-house lotteries, and it seems that other mea- sures are to be adopted to attempt their prevention. The Middlesex Magistrates intend to refuse licences to publicans who allow such gambling in their houses; a public notification to that effect having been made by Mr. Pownall, at the Mid- dlesex Sessions, on Thursday: the Inspectors of Police are to make returns of of- fenders.

Another railway thief was brought before the Lord Mayor on Wednesday. This offence was also committed on Saturday night, at the Shoreditch terminus. A traveller for-MeeerliNicoll, the tailors, lost his portmanteau: he hastened to the lrea5.1 luggage-van wittra on getting out of the train, but the trunk was gone.

It was proved that Wi Trewbridge had offered for sale some of the contents of the portmanteau.—Ite ended.

Two more of that numerous class the stealers of luggage at Metropolitan Rail- way stations were mien* in the act on Saturday evening, at the Shoreditch terminus of the Eastenepounties Railway. One, a smart-looking young man,

. , took two greatcoats from a waiting-room, and was harrying away with them whea he was stopped: be pretended that he was going to take them to the "lost pro- perty room." James Henery, a young German, picked out a trunk from the heap of luggage brought in by an up-train; ordered a porter to carry it to a cab;

and was just about to get into the cab and make off with the property, when 'a Mr. Williams, to whom it belonged, discovered what was going on. Both thieves have been examined by the Worship Street Magistrate, and they will be com- mitted for trial.

At Lambeth Police Court, on Saturday, one of the cases of robbing by the aid of chloroform was investigated—Edward Read, a cab-driver, being the prisoner.

George Cottrel stated that he hired Read's cab at a public-house near Deptford,

making a bargain to be driven for a light fare to Bond Street, Oxford Street. He was rather tipsy when he entered Read's cab; and was told by Read to go to

sleep, and he should be waked at his journey's end, lie accordingly dozed off.

The cab was stopped in the Westminster Road, and its stopping aroused him; but finding that it had not got to his destination, he lay back, and dozed off again. In

about two minutes he heard the prisoner say, " I've got an old bloke here," or

words to that effect. He also heard several voices about the vehicle, and one of them said, " He is fast asleep." At this time one of the cab-doors was opened

softly, and he felt something like a handkerchief pass several times before his face; and then it was that the prisoner said, "He is sound asleep." He next felt a hand in his waistcoat-pocket, where his money was; and on its being taken out,

he heard one of the party say, "Put his knife back." He also felt a hand put into his trousers-pocket; but was so prostrated from drowsiness as to be unable to make the slightest resistance, or attempt to protect his property. In what ap- peared to him to be two or three minutes, the prisoner opened the cab-door, and said, "Come, I can't take you any further for nothing"; and threw Cottrel for- wards on the pavement, so that he fell with great violence, and was severely hurt. While Cottrel was prostrate, Read got on his cab and rapidly drove off. Cottrel felt persuaded that the handkerchief passed over his face was drugged with some- thing the vapour of which overpowered him as he respired it. The prisoner was committed for trial.

Holland's flour-mills, an extensive erection at Stanley Bridge, Fulham, were destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning. When the engines arrived the supply of water was short; and no portion of the range of buildings was saved. The loss is estimated at 5,000L, which is but partially covered by insurance.

The Surrey Theatre is in such a state of decadence that the scenery, "proper- ties," costumes, decorations, &c., have been brought to the hammer. The sale commenced on Wednesday.